Prevalence and associated factors of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) in a sample of Brazilian university students

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have long been associated with health risk behaviors, but they are poorly studied in Brazilian university students. To estimate the prevalence of ACEs and investigate their association with sociodemographic data, health risk factors and self-related health in a sample of university students. A cross-sectional study conducted with 546 students from a Brazilian public university. The self-reported 10-ACE Study questionnaire (ACE-Q) and sociodemographic information (age, sex, family income), health risk factors (body mass index, physical exercise, alcohol and tobacco use) and self-related health were assessed. Chi-square Test and multivariate logistic regression were used to evaluate the association between the cumulative occurrence of ACE (ACE ≥4) and the studied factors. Of the 546 participants, 464 responded to all ACE-Q questions; 74.4% reported at least one ACE, and 13.1 % reported four or more. Lower family income (OR = 2.02; 95%CI = 1.13–3.61; p = 0.01) and self-related poor health (OR = 2.29; 95%CI = 1.28–4.08; p = 0.00) were associated with the occurrence of ACE ≥4. Most students reported at least one ACE, while a minority reported ≥4 ACEs associated with lower family income and poor self-health. The data suggest that preventive actions should be considered to mitigate the problem, with lower-income students being treated as a priority. •Brazil is among the countries with the highest estimates of child abuse.•The prevalence of ACE in Brazilian university students is little studied.•Our results, based on a sample of Brazilian university students, showed that the occurrence of at least one ACE was high.•An accumulation of ACEs was associated with low family income and self-related poor health.•Universities should foster strategies to mitigate the negative effects of ACEs previously experienced by students.